Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1887-03-31
Tree Planting in General and Arbor DAY
In Particular.
Laura A. Alderman IN Dakota Farmer.

An hHtACulhTs
Laura A. Alderman IN Dakota Farmer.
1t seems to me that we in Dakota are
missing a golden opportunity to do our
selves good turn by our tame observ-
ance or non-observance of Arbor Day.
A few rapidly passing weeks will bring
1t to us again, and will its advent be
marked only by few isolated cases of
individual work as in the pastp May
1t not, by well directed effort be made a
day, pre-eminent among days, prolific
of good to the commonwealth, even as
1t Is in Nebraska where it is recorded
that seven millions OF trees were planted
in one Arbor Day.
Here where most of the defects of
our climate are directly traceable to the
absence of forests; when it has been
demonstrated in Europe and the east
ern states that sweeping storms, drouth
and aridity follow the destruction of
forests; when it is claimed by eminent
authorities that one fourth of the area
of a country should be in forest to de-
rive the highest benefit from its ameli-
Grating influence, and while it is true
that but three per cent OF Dakotas area
is so covered, supplemented by the fact
that our people are greatly deferred
from planting trees by lack of knowl-
edge OF what to plant and how to care
tor trees, it seems to me that the SUBJ
Ject becomes of sufficient magnitude to
merit the attention of our legislators.
Let few of the thousands of dollars
that flow so easily from the public
treasury to carry out the pet schemes of
corporations or sections of the terri.
tory. be diverted to the use of the whole
people by establishing chair for in
struction in forestry at our agricultural
college, having in connection with it q
botanical garden in which shall be
tested all trees and shrubs which prom
Use to be of value to Dakota, and let the
results be officially made known as
soon as proven.
Let horticulture and sylviculture as
well AS Agriculture be recognized as
being of the first Importance to the
whole people and worthy of encourage
nent, and let our board of agriculture,
that alone of the societies interested in
the subject having the funds to justify
it. offer liberal prize for the most prac-
tical. comprehensive treatise on the
subject of trees for Dakota planting,
the relative value OF different trees for
different uses, where each variety sue
ceeds best. methods of cultivation, etn.
Such facts as these ought to be gath
cred into text book and form a part of
the curriculum of of common schools.
Teach the children to become inter-
ested in tree planting and let Arbor
Day be devoted to identifying the
school grounds.
Prizes should be offered tor the best
results from Arbor Day planting on
school ground, in county or township
to be awarded after the lapse of a
specified term of years.
We pay many thousands of dollars
every year for the education of our
children, whether the education re-
ceived be more theoretical than practi-
cal can not now be discussed, but it
seems to me that the cause would not
suffer If an hour twice week from
now till next Arl,or Day were devoted
to reading aloud in every school room
in the territory, from "The Forest
Tree Planting Manual" prepared by
Minnesota Forestry Association, alter
mated with reading practical instruc-
tions on how to successfully raise fruit
in Dakota, even though the average
scholar knew less about Algpbraic prob-
lens or the location of the capital of
Siam.
Returning to Arbor Day it seems to
me that its work should be eventually
cooperative, rather than isolated.
Let the day be devoted to the orna-
mentation of streets, ro:ldways, and
public grounds, where to produce the
finest effect, our work needs to be sup
plemented by, and in harmony with
our neighbors, and in order to do this
previous to the day it is necessary to
have missionary work done by some
one to enlist the Indifferent and to
avoid the inharmonious effects. What
more noble work couli ladies' society
be engaged in than to organize now for
the object OF identifying their towns
with trees. Let each lady have her
street allotted to her to "work up" an
interest among its residents in the
work of supplying their street with
shade trees. conyerting plain LIST, End.
and 81 streets into maple, linden and
elm avenues.
| have written hastily. and much per-
haps that is impractical. but the truth
remains that the subject is OF import
ance sufficiently to warrant is occupy
ing a prominent part in the discussions
and deliberations of alliances. debating
societies and kindred associations, to
the end that we may plant largely and
according to knowledge.
MARRIED.
MITCHELi.-RUNDELL platteyIllc. Wis.
Thursday, March "a. 1897, at the residence of
the brides M tirr. by REV. r. Clnrgl. MIR.
John Mitchell %, Turner y. r.. and Miss Vic.
let A. Rnndell. OF pattevi'le, Wis.
The parties to the above contract